Steve pops everything like a pro

After reading the task brief, Steve decides to first test out how long the toaster takes. While that’s running, he tests out how quickly the monster pops up.

He also examines the jack-in-the-box, considering attempting to wind its handle with one hand while doing something else, before coming up with the idea to tape the lid down, so he can make it pop open on demand.

He tests out the bubble wand, creating long strings of large bubbles with easy, by waving it back and forth.

Steve puts all three pieces of bubble gum into his mouth together, and starts chewing them, stating “Go hard or go home”.

He also presses the switch, and is for a while unaware of where the balloon which it inflates is located, on the top of the dome. After spotting it, he toggles the button back off, aware that he does not yet want the balloon to pop.

With just 35 seconds remaining on the clock, Steve confirms his intention to begin his sequence of pops imminently. He begins the inflation of the balloon while still chewing the bubble gum, and holding onto the handle of the jack-in-the-box (which has been gaffer-taped to the table, to keep it still), ready to begin turning it.

Just before the timer reaches zero, he begins blowing a bubble gum bubble, while turning the handle of the jack-in-the-box.

As the timer hits zero, the toaster pops up, the jack-in-the-box pops, he pops the bubble gum, and the balloon pops, all in rapid succession. He then triggers the cuckoo clock, before waving the bubble wand, which creates a string of soap bubbles, one of which pops almost instantly. He then pops open the cat feeder, and sets off the monster toy, before the party popper.

In the studio, Alex reveals that Steve had managed to make everything pop within a window of just 18 seconds, which earns him first place.

(Written by Karl Craven)

(Illustrations collected and adjusted by: David Fuller)